Degree-day register



P 1953 E. D. HIDY 2,652,724

DEGREE-DAY REGISTER Filed Feb. 25, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 28 JNV ELMoDIiIDy I P 1953 E. D. HlDY 2,652,724

DEGREE-DAY REGISTER Filed Feb. 25, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVEN TOR. ELMO .2). H129 y Any} 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 25, 1948 INVENTOR. ELMO D. Hwy M a m Patented Sept. 22, 1953 UNITED STATES m" OFFICE 14 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a degree-day register device and particularly to a device of this character," which automatically records and accumulates the degree days.

No reliable means are at present known for accumulating and recording the number of degrees the outside temperature is below a given standard or norm. those" instances where this information is needed or desired it is ob tained manually by consuitihg with the authori ties which compilethe weather reports that in-' clude the high and'low' temperature for a given day and strike a mean" fi'om theseiactors' and by subtracting the mean temperature from the estabiished norm determine the degree days in the previous day period thereby making up a record which is utilized obtaining a desired result, such" as, the amount of oil utilized for heating purposes in" said previous day.

The principal object, therefore; "of this invention is the provision of a device which will automatically record the degree days and accumulate said degree days so'th'at an accurate record is always available;

Another object" of the present invention is the provision of a device for" accomplishing the foregoing object that" is extremely accurate and automatically operatesia's the change temperature takes place" instead" of" striking a" mean which mayor maynot' accurately indicate said degree days of a rejceidifistime:

A further obje'c'tof the present invention is th provision of .a devi lat'. $i Sil 1 y 9 struction commensurate w h the ac racy nee.-

essary to recordinjjg' temperatu es they occur; v

Other objeers-anaadvan. oith'epresemmvention should be rfefad'l al pafentby' reference" to the following specificatlbn' considered in conjunction withthe accompanyingorawingsform ing a part thereof and it is'ijo be unuersipqu tl ija't any modificationsv may be" made in the exact structural details there shown and described, within the scope of'the appended claims, without departing from-0r" exceeding the" spirit of the invention.

In the drawings? Fig. 1 is an elevational' view of: a degree day recorder built into a.siiitablecabinetwith' the door of the cabinet open;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view' through 'Fig; '1 as seen from line 2-2'on saidFig; 1. a

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view through the dial of the devicewh ichiorms a detail'ofthe invention, said sectionbeingtaken chimed- 3 2 a plane below the top of the cabinet as seen from line 44 on Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is asectional View through the cabinet taken at right angles to Fig. 2- on line 5-5 on Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a semi-diagrammatic plan view of a structure for accomplishing the results of the present invention mechanically instead of electrically.

Fig. '7 is a transverse sectional view of the mechanism of 6- as seen from line 'i 'i on said Fig. ,6.

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view of the mechanism oi Fig.6 taken through a plane ahead of that of Fig. on line 8-43 on said Fig. 6. I

Fig. 9 isa wiring diagram of the circuits employed with the degree-day recorder of Figs. 1 to 5.

Fig. 10- is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through a portion of the mechanism as seen from line W lt) on Fig. 1.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through the stylus showing a modification unit utilizing o'il'a the fuel the burners will be in the mounting thereof and forming a detail of the invention.

Fig. 12 is' a fragmentary, sectional, perspective View of a dial and cover, showing a modification in the construction thereof and forming a detail of the invention. I

Throughout the several-views of the drawings similar reference characters are employed to denote the same ohsim ilar parts.

In-the use of oil for heating homes and the like use is made of a storage tank from which the said oil is fed to the burners. The burners are cont-rolled byw'alv-es operated automatically from a thermostat or gauge located within the area being heated; The thermostat or other control device is .setto maintain .a given degree of heat regardlessof the temperature exteriorly of the spacebeing controlled.

Itha b en oundthatbe nd a ce tai perature, exteriorly, the temperature in the space being heated must be raised-in order to be comfortable. In other wvords with exterior temperatures-down :to 'ZDfF. or 615 F. no inside heat need be generated .but below these temperatures heat i n-teriorly, or- Wit in the space eing controlled, must be supplie ,a'nd ihthejcaseof a heating automatically turne on upon'reaching this said or minimum exterior temperature in order to maintain a predeterminedor preest'ablished 5 minimum interior temperature} The exterior temperature which has been -es- 3 tablished as the norm is 65 F. which will be used as the norm in describing the present application.

It has been established, each heating plant will utilize a definite amount of fuel oil to maintain a given interior temperature for a given time period, a twenty-four hour day, for example, for each degree of temperature drop exteriorly. This rate of fuel oil consumption is established for each heating plant by observing the user for a given period of time and noting the amount of fuel oil consumed and the number of degree-days for this period whereby it can be determined howmany degree-days will pass between the time of filling. his reserve or storage tank and the next filling required. It is the purpose, of the present invention to automatically count and record these degree-days so that a supplier can maintain an accurate record of the passing degrees and thereby maintain a record as to when additional fuel oil supply is required.

Specifically, the device of the present invention comprises a housing or casing having a back I from which upstands a top 16, a bottom H and sides It and 13. be closed by a lid or cover comprising a panel 23 of an area substantially equal to the area of cabinet back l5 and having upstanding from the edges thereof flanges 2|, 22, 23 and 2d. The flanges 2l-2 l are channeled as at in Fig. 5 to receive therein a rubber gasket 26 that is pressed in sealing engagement with the upper edges of the cabinet walls Iii-i9. For convenience the cabinet side wall i9 has projecting therefrom hinge lugs 21 for alignment with similar lugs 23 projecting from the cover flange 23 with said lugs having passing therethrough pivot bolts 29. In order to lock the lid or cover in its closed position the cabinet front wall I8 is provided with a latch 33 cooperating with an elongated latch 3| in the cover wall or flange 24. The lid or cover panel 23 is provided centrally thereof with an opening covered by a glass window 3| through which the interior of the cabinet may be observed. Interiorly of the cabinet and carried by the back panel 15 is an electric clock 32 of the usual construction utilized in recording thermometers and having projecting therefrom a driven shaft 33. The clock 32 may be of a construction to make a single revolution of its shaft 33 in each twenty-four hours but preferably is so geared that the shaft 33 makes a complete revolution each twelve hours.

Secured to for rotation with the clock shaft 33 is a disc 34 and which connection may take any suitable or desirable construction. As shown in Fig. 10 this construction comprises the formation of screw threads 35 on the clock shaft 33 receiving a carrier 33 which has mid-way of its height a radially projecting flange 31, which flange in plan view is preferably formed as hexagonal in shape so that it can readily be screwed home on the clock shaft 33. Upstanding from the radial flange 31 the carrier 35 has a counterbored post 33 of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of a bore 39 substantially centrally of the disc 34. The post 33 is internally threaded to receive a lug 40 externally threaded and projecting from a cap member 4|. The cap member 4! has a flange 42 for encircling the hollow post 38 whose free edge engages the disc 34 around the aperture 39 therein.

From the foregoing it should be noted that the The cabinet is adapted to 4' disc 3 makes a complete revolution with the clock shaft 33.

The disc 34 is adapted, as will presently be made clear, to form one side of an electrical circuit in recording degree-days and for this reason should have a surface that is normally non-conductive while permitting conduction through the disc at proper and desirable intervals. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3 the disc has a back or body portion 33 from the forward face of which upstands a plurality of bars or contact strips 44. It is contemplated that the disc 33 will have its face etched between the bars 44 thereby providing for the major portion of the face of the disc to be recessed. After the said recesses are formed they are filled with insulating material 43 thereby making non-conductive areas between the upstanding bars or contact strips 43.

In practice the disc 34' is laid out in a series of theoretical concentric circular bands 46 from a point as near the center or aperture 33 as practical to the outer perimeter of the disc. Each circular band 36 radially from the center represents a drop of five degrees in temperature which is traversed by a stylus in the samemanner that a'recording thermometer traverses a recording dial. In other words the circle 4i on the inner edge of the band 43 and the circle 38 at the outer edge of the band 46 represents a drop in temperature from 65 F. to 60 F. In the same manner the next band 49 having its inner edge represented by the circle 48 and its outer edge by the circle 53 represents a further drop of five degrees temperature or a temperature of from 60 F. to 55 F. Each of the bands representing five degrees temperature drop is divided into segments by the bars or contact strips Ml, the number of said segments in each said band corresponding to the maximum number of degrees that each said band is below the established norm. Since the band 33 represents a five degree drop in temperature below a norm of 65 F. it is provided with five bars or contact strips 43 with five insu-.. The second; band 3 representing a maximum of ten degrees; drop below the norm of 65 F. is provided with. ten bars or contact strips 44 and therefore ten-. segments of insulation. Each band of five degree 7 temperature drop beyond the band indicated at 49 to the periphery of the disc is correspondingly; divided wherefore the outermost band represent-. ing a temperature of between 25 F. and 30 F. below zero represents a maximum of F. below. the norm of 65 F. wherefore this band, indicated} by the reference numeral 5! would be divided byninety-five bars or contact strips 4a to establish. ninety-five segments of insulating material there-s in. As will subsequently be made clear these; bars or contact strips M are employed for re lating segments between said bars.

cording the degree-days.

Cooperating with the dial 34 is a stylus com prising a head 52 having a ball point 53 and secured in any suitable or desirable manner as by a screw 34 to an arm 53. The arm iiiiis formed as a spring member and biased to have a firm. contact with the face of the dial If desired, and to insure a firm contact between the stylus, ball end or point 53 and the face of the disc 33 the said stylus may bespring backed as disclosed in the modification in Fig. 11. As shown in said Fig. 11 the stylus 52 has an expansion spring i'H between its body portion I12 and the arm 53 which may be readily tensioned by the mounting and attaching screw 34.

The arm 55 is adapted to be swung away from anew-24 ine'nt the top plate 'GE and bottom plate 6| or a I supporting bracket indicated in general by the reference numeral :62. Any suitable or desirable means such as pillars 64 may be employed for "securing the bracket '62 in operative nosition to the "cabinet back panel '15. The chief purpose of this bracket 82 and the parts just described is to provide a sensitive pivoted mounting ior the stylus arm '55.

The pivot shaft 59 is oscillated ii'pon an increase and decrease in the 'oiitside temperatureror which purpose it has secure-e to it intermediate it's ends a lever 65 to the outer end of which is pivo'tly connected, as at '65, "one end of a link 67-". The link '61 at its other end is provided with an elongated aperture 68 through which projects a pin 69 of an operating arm 10.

The pin 69 is retained, yiel'dably, against the inner, 'left' hand, as seen in Fig. 4, end of the elongated aperture 53 by yielding means which may take any suitable or desirable form of construction for a purpose presently to be made clear. Specifically, thism'eans'comprises asprirfg ii encircling an adjustable screw 72 threaded into a post 13 upstanding from an ear #4 projecting laterally atone end of thelink 6-1. The spring H abuts on one end with a'collar don the screw "12 and abuts on the other end with the arm it.

The arm i6 is secured through an enlargement it, at its lower end, to a coil 1'! which is a hollow tube-like member under "coil spring tension and adapted to be uncoiled as pressure therein, due

to reduction in outside temperature, is developed. I

The coil ii is formed at the end of a tube 18 which is secured or anchored in iposit'ion by clamps i9 and -80 to the cabinet back IS. The tube i8 isillustrated as having at its inner end a very small diameter tube 8| which passes 'outwardly through the cabinet wall I! into a sheath cable -52. The cable 82 and tube 8| may be of any desired length. and terminate in a mounting coupling 83 which in turn carries the member 85 which is sensitive to temperature changes in the surrounding atmosphere and which member '84 is commercially known as a Mercury Bulb. The changing in density of the mercury in the mercurybulb-sets up the pressure in thetubes 81 and 18 which uncoil's the coil Ti or permits same to 1 coilunder spring tension inherent therein for thereby shifting the link 61.

The mechanism hereinbefore described for actuating the link 6! and the stylus arm 55 are known having been employed in substantially this form in recording thermometers.

In order to effect a recording and an accumulation of degree-days use is made-of av counter '85 which is well known and operated by electrical impulses. The electric energy is obtained from any suitable commercial current outlet to which may be attached the pronged plug =86 which has extending therefrom wires iii and 88 inclosed in the usual insulating sheath. As shown in Fig. 4,

the wires -31 and 88 have branches extending therefrom within the sheath 89 for connection with the electric clock-32 for operating the same and the said wires 8? and 88 terminate in a transformer so mounted within the cabinet in any suitable or desirable spacesuch as near the upper 6 end thereof. The transformer 90 provides a cur rent of low voltage since that is all that is re:- iiiiire'd for operating the counter to.

The transformer 90 isshown as having extend"- ing therefrom wires 9'! and 92 forming between them the low voltage *circuit. The wire 92 terminates in a spring pressed shoe 93 that has electrical contact with 'aicollar portion d4 of the disc carrier '36. The other transformer circuit or low voltage wire S l terminates in a terminal 3'5 of a relay switch 96. The relay switch 9% is of the magnetic type for handling relatively low voltage and is not structurally illustrated in the drawings but merely diagrammatically in Fig. 9, to which reference will presently be made. The relay switch 98 has a second terminal '9? connected by a wire 58 to the cabinet back panel l5 which may be 'considered. a ground connection utilizing the cabinet as a part of the low voltage electric circuit. The low voltage circuit wire -32 has a branch wireiifi extending therefrom which terminates in relay switch terminal 1 00, The relay switch terminal has a second wire it! attached thereto and extending therefrom which termihates in the counter 85. The second wire I02 from the counter 85 terminates in a terminal 613 of the relay switch 96. The oscillating shaft bracket 62 is preferably insulated from the cabinet by its mounting posts or pillars 64 although this may be a metal connection, but, if insulated the said bracket 62 is electrically connected with the cabinet by means of a wire Hi4. h

Referring "now to the wiring diagram in;Fig. 9 it will be noted that the wires 81 and 88 termihate in the opposite ends of transformer primary coils 'l 05 with said wires 81 and 88 having-respectively extending therefrom branch wires 8? and '88 which are enclosed-in thesheath-BQ and "terminate in the electric clock motor. The transformer secondary coil Hi3 has wires i9! and I08 extending therefromwhich terminate at transformer terminals 109 and 110 from which respectively extend the low voltage circuit wires SI and The wire 9! terminates, as noted above, in

the terminal 95 of the relay switch 96. Connected with the terminal 95 -is, -addition ally, one 'end of a solenoid magnetcoil Hland which-solenoid magnet coil hasits other end connected with the relay "switch terminal 9L Asw-as noted above the relay switch terminal 91 is electrically connected by wire 93 to the cabinet back panel 15 or ground H2. I

The solenoid magnet coil I l has associated therewith a :projectable core 113 carryingat its "outer end a bri d'gin'g switch contact H4 adapted to close or bridge switch contacts I I-land i It located within the usualhousing of the relay switch 96. The contact 115 is connected by a wire IH with the relay switch terminal Hi3 with which, as noted above, also connected the counter actuating wire 102. The other switch contact H6 is connected by a wire H8 with the switch terminal 100 which, as noted-above, has also connected therewith the wire &9 from the low voltage-circuitwire 92. w H

The operation of this device is as follows: 7

The cabinet is ;*mounted in position so that the mercurybulbM will be subjected to the outside; temperatureor atmosphere preferablyon the north wall of the building. The wires-8i and 8-8, through their plug 86, areconnected with an electrical current source. The. counter mechanism 85 is then positioned at any point desirable Where it can be observed. -I-he point of mount- 1m 10f QC MEI 3 ybe 011% desk or other support considerably removed from the operating mechanism and since the circuit which operates it is of a low voltage no appreciable problem of installation is encountered. It should be noted that any number of counters may be connected in parallel in the wires IOI and I02.

Rotation of the motor 32 causes a similar rotation of the dial 34 and changes in the atmosphere acting on the mercury bulb 84 causes the arm 55 to swing outwardly of the cabinet center, or to the left as seen in Fig. 1, upon a decline in said temperature. If the temperature is above 65 F. the arm 55 win be swung toward the center of the disc 34 inwardly of the circle 41 which forms the inner edge of temperature band 46. The said swinging of the arm 55 will occur until the oscillating arm 65 engages a stop H9 upstanding from the bottom plate SI of the supporting bracket 52. The reason for this is that no purpose is gained by swinging the arm past center of the disc 34, or to the right thereof, as at this time the temperature is above that at which additional heat within the building is desired or needed. In order to permit of the holding of the arm 55 by the stop H9 the spring II is compressed thereby allowing the operating arm I9 to move its actuating pin 69 in the link elongated aperture 68.

Assuming that the temperature acting on the mercury bulb 84 is between 50 F. and 55 F. the arm stylus 52 will be in the temperature band outwardly of the band 49, illustrated in the drawing, and which temperature band 5550 represents a maximum of fifteen degrees below the norm of 65 F. will have therein fifteen bars or contact points 44. As the dial 35 is rotated it successively passes the bars or contact points 44 below the stylus point 53 and thereby makes or completes an electrical circuit as follows: from one end of secondary coil I06 through wire I08, transformer terminal I I0, control circuit wire 92, sliding contact or shoe 93, disc carrier collar 94, disc carrier 33, disc 34, stylus 52, arm 55, supporting bracket 62, wire I04, to the cabinet back panel I or ground H2, relay switch terminal 91, magnetic switch coil III, relay switch terminal 95, wire 9|, transformer terminal I09 and wire I01 to the other end of the secondary coil I06.

The completion of this circuit projects the core H3 to the position for bridging contacts H5 and I I0 thereby completing the following electric circuit, from transformer secondary coil I06 through wire Hi8, transformer terminal IIO, circuit wire 92, circuit branch wire 99, relay switch terminal I00, wire I I8, fixed contact H6, bridging contact I I4, fixed contact II5, wire I I1, relay switch contact I03, wire I02, actuating mechanism within the counter 35 (not shown in the drawings), wire IOI, relay switch terminal 95, circuit wire 9|, transformer terminal I09 and wire I01 to the other end of the secondary coil I06. The closing of this circuit effects an adjustment of the counter mechanism to indicate or record a degree-day. This operation continues each time a bar or switch contact 44 on the disc 34 presents itself to the stylus 52.

It is to be understood that a degree-day is a drop of one degree below the established norm in twenty-four hours wherefore if the temperature were 50 F. for a twenty-four hour period there would be fifteen degree-days in said twenty-four hour period. By utilizing a clock and dial that make a complete revolution in twelve hours and with the dial marked off in divisions for each degree ofdrop the device would register twice for each degree of temperature drop. For this reason the counter 85 is shown as utilizing onehalf digits, wherefore, while each bar or contact 44 registers as it passes the stylus 52 it requires two contacts to register a single degree-day. The half degree-day mark is indicated in the drawings by the reference character I20.

The counter 85 is shown in Figs. 1 and 4 as having an upper set or series of windows I2I and a lower set or series of windows I22. The first set of windows I2I may be employed for indicating the number of degree-days in short periods of time such as daily or weekly while the second set of Windows I22 would be employed for indicating the total number of degree-days in a normal heating season such as from the first of September to the last of the following June. It is understood that the digits or figures that appear in the windows I2I and I22 to the left of the one-half character accumulate in the same manner as any counter and it is further to be understood that the counter includes mechanism whereby the said indicating characters or digits may be returned to zero at the end of given periods, those in the windows I2 I, as noted above, at the end of each day or week while those in the windows I22, again as noted above, at the end of the heating season.

In those rare instances where something may happen or occur to prevent the oscillation of the arm 55 to the left, and in order to prevent springing or damaging to the link 61 and parts operated thereby, there is provided a yielding or cushioning connection comprising a spring I23 and an adjusting screw I24 which has suificient tension thereon to effect normal operation but which will yield under undue force. This mechanism is substantially identical with the connection of the operating arm I9 with the link 6'! at its other end and above fully described.

The foregoing mechanism is the preferred construction and operates by electric power. In Figs. 6, 7 and 8 a device for accomplishing the same result is disclosed which, however, is purely mechanical.

As shown in Figs. 6, '7 and 8 use is made of a base or support I25 having mounted thereon a clock !25 which may be of the mechanical'or spring motor type although an electric motor clock may be employed. The clock I25 terminates in a driven shaft or member I21 to which is secured a shaft I28 having longitudinally thereof a spline E29. The shaft I23 is suitably journaled at its other end in a bearing I30 upstanding from the base I 25. Mounted on the shaft I29 is a drum I3I consisting of a cylindrical body member i3?! having heads I33 and I34, each similar to the head i 33 shown in crosssection in Fig. '7. The heads I33 and I34 along with the cylindrical body portion I32 are made as light in weight and as durable as possibl consistent with the work to be performed thereby and each of said heads, similar to head I33, has a hub I35 with an inward projecting key I30 Il(;(3lVd in the groove or spline I29 in the shaft Upstanding from the base I25 is a temperature responsive device, indicated in general by the reference numeral I97, which comprises an expansible and contractable bellows I38 secured to and projecting from a support I39 through which the device I31 is attached to the base. The bellows I3? has at its other end a head I40 carrying, substantially at the center thereof, a rod MI. The rod I4I serves as a support for the 'touterend-of the bellows I38--and is mounted for *"sliding movement through a bearing I42 at the j-rupper endofa post I43 secured to and upstand- "ing from thebase I25. The rod MI has its'free en-d "upturned,- as at 4%, -and is provided with *amaperturefora linkIdE. The linlc-I45 has encircling it expansioncoil spring 46- which abuts-on one end with 1 the upturned portion *or finger I M of the rod -14! and which spring abutsonits otherend with a collar Ml on the link-I65. The link-I45 is connected through a pin I ia with a lever I 49, the-connectionof the lin'k i5 through the'pin- I43 with the -lever I46 beingthroughan elongated aperture 'I 56.

**'The leverl 49 has its one'end'pivotlyconnected atI-EI to-the upper end of an'upstanding -pillar -I5Z=convenieritly located on the base I25 at the "outer -'-e'dge-- thereof. -'The-1ever--I l9 is provided at its outer end with a second-elongated aperture ---I 53*receiving thereinior' sliding-movement a" *cross" head-* I-5 l at theouter-end-of alink 155. The link"I55-*at its inner end -has depending 'therefrom a shifter-*shoel56 disposed-in a-circumferentiargroove IB'I -formed in-collar I58 se- ="cured -to'=and7-projecting= forwardly of the drum head ltd.

. The-drum cylinder body I32- is divided longi- *tudi-na-lly thereof 'into'temperature bands I59 which correspond to the *temperature bands 46 *-and i9-of the dial 34*ab0ve described. 'Eachof thetemperatwre' bands I56 on the drum cylinden-or bo'dy- I32 is transversely divided by pro- --je'ctions I66- each extending transversely of its 'ban'd and there being' as'manyprojections for '-'each-band-as the said'bandrepresents degrees -b'elow 'the norm-as above described in connec- *tion-with thecross bars orcontact bars 44 of thedial fi. The said temperature bands -I59 are'adapted' to operate through their projections I 60 a counter I 6 I which upstands from the base 4 I25.

Any suitable or desirable means-"may be em- --"-ployed "fr actuating the counter I6I, shown in "thefirav'ving consistingbfalever I62 pivoted at I G-3 intermediate its ends to a bracket or the like =I64=*carried by thecounter 'I6I. The lever I62,

on one 'side'of the pivot I63,"is shaped as at- I65 to be-engaged by the projections "I66 for thereby -oscillating' -the leverabout the pivot I63. The

-of the drum I-3I "brings" the :various teinpera- -ture bands l-5e 'intojalignment with the counter actuating,lever'lfiz-and since the shaftI281is being ocnstantly'rotated by the :cloclr l26 the projections I til-of each temperatureband automatically operates the counter "I6 I "for thereby counting andaccumulating the -degree-days-as theyoccur.

-It is-understcod that the bellows 'l38 of the 'temperatureresponsive device'fll will expand as the teinperature;rises above the norm. This expansion -wou1d,-through the-shaft ;or rod'I H, tend to 'oscillate'thearm-M9to the'left ofits solid line position in Fig. 6 but since no purpose would be served insofar as recordingor accumulati-ng-degree daysisconcerned; by this outward pscil-lation of "the"arm M9; the bearing post I30 acts I as a-stop---for-- the drum I3 I --up0n coming into contact with the drumhead collar I 58. The expansion of thb'QHOWS I38-and the outward *movementcfthe-rod or *sha-ft I 4| is absorbed by thespring 36 or other; suitable -'device ;provided for this purpose.

' The description -0f-"the dial 36, above-in connection with the disclosure in Figs. land 3-is the preferred construction but any suitable or ide- --sirable construction -may be employed for this purpose which will efiect an :electrical circuit for each degree of temperature-dropb'elowthe norm. A simpleand inexpensive construction: is disclosed inFig; 12-wherein-use is made of a dial Il' l of electricalconducting-niaterial; and on which is placed a -cover H5 "of insulating material. The cover IIE may conveniently "be formed as-a paper'disc' ha-Ving'sl-its-or elongated apertures lid-punched therein to take--theplace of the bars or-conta-ct strips 46' of-the above -described form. "It-will-be understood; that the ball point 53-ofthes-tylus can-readilyextend through the said slits or elongated apertures H6 to have contact with the-meta1- disc 174.

With this construction thesome electrical circuits arecompleted so that" the sameoperation of the degree-day-recorder--is obtained.

It will lee-noted thatthe-discof each-modification has the=rim or-periphery thereof" divided into hour segments Ill and which are 1 conveniently inarkedwith hour-numerals 1 to 12 SQthat the time of-checking the accumulatoris readily -portion of the lever 162 on the-other side of the,-., noted and which'time'is observed-throughthe 1 pivot 163 is in contact-with a trip arm I66 projedtingfrom thecounter i iii and heldin'engagement viith the-lever I62 by yieldable meansact- '-ing thereorr=-and located withinthecounter I6I.

' glass observation Window of the-cabinet lid--01 cover 20.

"It is believednow evident that there has been provided a degree-dayrecorder whichaccom- 'The counter liil similartolithe counter 85 -is,... -plishes the objectsiniti'ally set forth.

provided with aseries of windows 16'! and-l68 tithe fdrmer-ucounting andaccumulates degreedays' for short periods while' the latter counts andaccumulatesthe' degree days for the entire heating-season.

I. II: :is? I believed i'thati the" operation: of the me- --="chanic'a1 degree day recorders and-- accumulator "What is claimed is:

1. In a degree-'-day--registerand accumulator the combination of a rotatabledisc; aclock mechanism for rotatingthe' disc through a singlerevoi1 lution in a sing1e-daystime;said disc-being'-divided between its center and outer periphery -into temperature zones with-each zone representative of a given number of degrees belowacertain temperature degree; successive-temperature zones Reduction or"=falling* temperature actingon-- 5 froni the' center-=0? 'the disc to -the-periphery the b'e'llows 138 causes *same to contract from he fiill 1ine -position shown to the position shown by pha'ntom'"line'IBS. "This movement of=--the bellows l38;-==and'particularly its'head I46,-car

thereof --indicating the temperature nextbelow the zone on one side thereof and "the temperature next above the zone on the other sidethereof; each tem-peratureaone being subdivided into ries with -it the rod M i which through the link :70 --po'rtions with each" portionrepresentative 'ora I45 actuates or oscillates the arm 1 l9 from'its sol id -line position'-'toithe'= phantom line position 1:10 th'erebf. 'Ihe movement-of the' arm I10 through this arc shifts the drum -I-3I non the single degree-day; each single degreedayportion in each temperature -zone -having a contact-bar at a correspondingmoint therein; and--means-co- --operating'with said disc and its oontactbarsmovshaft l w through the link 1155.The -movement able relative K to the -disc upon tem-perature changes from the certain temperature degree for engagement with said contact bars and to thereby indicate the number of separate degree days er single day below the said certain temperature degree that occurs, including a temperature sensitive device, an arm oscillatable by said temerature sensitive device to the different temperature zones, a contact member on said arm for engagement with the contact bars in said temperature zones, and an electrical circuit completable upon engagement of the oscillatable arm contact member and rotatable member contact bars for operating an electrical counter and accumulator.

2. In a degree-day register, the combination of a clock mechanism, a rotatable member rotatable by said mechanism through a single rotation in a given length of time, contact bars distributed over the surface of said rotatable member, said bars being spaced from each other and arranged in a plurality of contiguous zones defined by series of said bars extending along the path of rotation of said member with the number of bars in each zone varying progressively from each zone to the next contiguous zone, a contact member positioned relative to the movable member surface so as to make contact with said contact bars when said rotatable member rotates to contact efiectively only one bar at a time, temperature responsive means for causing relative motion between said contact and rotatable members transversely to the path of rotation of the zoned surface of the rotatable member, the extent of said motion being proportional to the temperature to which said device is su ject, and means actuated by contact of said contact member with said bars to register the number of contacts made when said rotatable member is rotated through a single rotation by the clock mechanism.

3. In a degree-day register, the combination of a clock mechanism, a rotatable member rotatable by said mechanism through a single rotation in a given length of time, contact bars distributed over the surface of said rotatable member, said bars being spaced from each other and arranged in a plurality of contiguous zones defined by series of said bars extending along the path of rotation of said member with the number of bars in each zone varying progressively from each zone to the next contiguous zone, a contact member positioned relative to the movable member surface so as to make contact with said contact bars when said rotatable member rotates to contact effectively only one bar at a time, temperature responsive means for causin relative motion between said contact and rotatable members transversely to the path of rotation of the zoned surface of the rotatable member, the extent of said motion being proportional to the temperature to which said device is subject, means actuated by contact of said contact member with said bars to register the number of contacts made when said rotatable member is rotated through a single rotation by the clock mechanism, and means accumulating the number of contacts that occur during successive rotations of said rotatable member.

4. In a degree-day register, the combination of a rotatable disc, contact bars distributed over the surface of said disc, said bars being spaced from each other and arranged in a plurality of contiguous zones defined by series of said bars extending along the path of rotation of said disc with the number of bars in each. Zon yi g progressively from each zone to the next contiguous zone, a clock mechanism for rotating the disc through a single revolution in a given period of time, a stylus engaging and adapted to cooperate with said disc surface and contact bars and of such size as to be able to contact only one bar at a time, an oscillatable arm for said stylus, said arm being oscillatable into the various paths of said contact bars, a temperature sensitive device, means connecting the tempera ture sensitive device with the oscillatable arm for eiiecting the oscillation of the arm upon temperature variation acting on said temperature sensitive device for moving the stylus into the paths of said contact bars, and means actu ated by contact of said stylus with said bars to register the number of contacts made when said disc is rotated through a single rotation by the clock mechanism.

5. In a degree-day register, the combination of a rotatable disc, contact bars distributed over the surface of said disc, said bars being spaced from each other and arranged in a plurality of contiguous zones defined by series of said bars extending along the path of rotation of said disc with the number of bars in each zone varying progressively from each zone to the next contiguous zone, a clock mechanism for rotating the disc through a single revolution in a given pe riod of time, a stylus engaging and adapted to cooperate with said disc surface and contact bars of such size as to be able to contact only one bar at a time, an oscillatable arm for said stylus, said arm being oscillatable into the various paths of said contact bars, a temperature sensitive device, means connecting the temperature sensitive device with the oscillatable arm for effecting the oscillation of the arm upon temperature variation acting on said temperature sensi-- tive device for moving the stylus into the paths of said contact bars, means actuated by contact of said stylus with said bars to register the num-' ber of contacts made when said disc is rotated through a single rotation by the clock mecha nisrn, and means accumulating the number of contacts of the stylus and contact bars that occur during successive rotations of the disc.

6. In a degree-day register, the combination of a clock mechanism, a drum, contact bars distributed over the surface of the drum, said bars being spaced from each other and arranged in a plurality of contiguous zones defined by series of said contact bars extending around the drum With the number of bars in each zone varying progressively from each zone to the next zone, means supporting said drum for rotation and axial movement, the clock mechanism being connected with the last named means for rotating the same together with the drum through a single revolution in a given period of time, a temperature sensitive device capable of expansion and contraction upon temperature variations acting thereon, means connecting the temperature sensitive device with the drum for eifecting axial movementof the drum upon the expansion and contraction of the temperature sensitive device, and means relative to which the drum is moved for engagement with the contact bar on the drum for indicating the number of such engagements that occurred during a single revolution of the drum.

'7. In a degree-day register, the combination of a clock mechanism, a drum, contact bars distributed over the surface of the drum, said bars being spaced from each other and arranged mesa-m4 in a plurality of contiguouszones definedby series of said contactbars-extending around the drum with the number of bars each zone vary ing progressively from each zone to the next zone, means supporting said" drum for rotation and axial movement, the clock mechanism being connected with the last named means for-rotating the same together with-the drum through a single revolution in a given period of time, a temperature sensitive device capable of expansion and contraction upon-'- t'emperature variations acting thereon, means connecting the temperature sensitive device with the drum for effecting axial movement of the uponthev expansion and contraction of the temperature sensitive device, and means relative to the drum is moved for engagement withcontact bars on the drum for indicating the number of such engagements that" occurred during a single revolution of the drum; comp-rising a pivotallymounted finger and a counter.

8. In a degree-day register, the combination of a drum, contact bars distributed over the surface of the drum, said bars being spaced from each other and arranged in a plurality of contiguous zones defined by series: of said contact bars extending around thedrum with the number of bars in each zone varying progressively from each zone to the next zone, a shaft supporting said drum for rotation and axial movement, a clock mechanism for rotating theshaft together with the drum through asingle revolution in a given period of time, a temperature sensitive device capable of expansion and contrac tion upon temperature variations acting thereon, a system of levers connecting the temperature device with the drum for effecting axial movement of the drum during its rotation upon the expansion and contraction of the temperature sensitive device, a, pivotally mounted finger relative to which the drum is axially moved and rotated for engagement with and oscillation of said finger by the contact bars on the drum, and a counter connected with and actuated by the finger for indicating the number of such engagements of the finger and contact bars that occurred during a single rotation of the drum.

9. In a degree-day register, the combination of a drum, contact bars distributed over the surface of the drum, said bars being spaced from each other and arranged in a plurality of contiguous zones defined by series of said contact bars extending around the drum with the number of bars in each zone varying progressively from each zone to the next zone, a shaft supporting said drum for rotation and axial movement, a clock mechanism for rotating the shaft together with the drum through a single revolution in a given period of time, a temperature sensitive device capable of expansion and contraction upon temperature variations acting thereon, a system of levers connecting the temperature device with the drum for effecting axial movement of the drum during its rotation upon theexpansion and contraction of the temperature sensitive device, a pivotally mounted finger relative to which the drum is axially moved and rotated for engagement with and oscillation of said finger by the contact bars on the drum, a counter connected with and actuated by the finger for indicating the number of such engagements oi the finger and contact bars that occurred during a single rotation of the drum, and means for accumulating the number of such engagements occurring during successive rotations of the drum.

1'0. In a degree-day registen thecombination of acl'o'ckmechani'sm; a rotatable member r-otatable by saidclock mechanism through a single rotation ina given length of time; contact means having spaced contact portions distributed overthe surface of" said rotatable member along the path of rotation of saidmember, the number of said contact portions per given length of path of rotation of" the rotatable member varying progressivel transversely of the direction of rotation oft-he rotatable-member, a contact member. position-ed relative to the rotatable member surface" so as to make contact with saidcontact portions when saidrotatable member rotates and of such size; asto be able to contact onlyone contact portion at a time, temperature responsfvemeans for-causing relative motiontransversely of; said path of rotation between said contact and rotatable members, the extent of such motion being proportional to the temperature to which said device is subjected, and means actuated by contact of said contact member with said contact portions, to register the number of contacts made when said rotatable member is rotated: through a single rotation by the clock mechanism.

11. In a degree-day register, the combination of a clock mechanism, a rotatable member rotatable by said. clock mechanism, through a single rotation in a given length of time, contact means having spaced contact portions distributed over the surface of said rotatable member along the path of rotation of said, member, the number of said contact portions per given, length of path of rotation of the rotatable member varying progressively transversely of the direction of rotation of the rotatable member, a contact member positioned relative to the rotatable member surface so as to make contact with said contact portions when said rotatable member rotates and of such size as to be able to contact only one contact portion at a time, temperature responsive means for causing relative motion transversely of said path of rotation between said contact and rotatable members transversely of the path of rotation of the rotatable member, the extent of such motion being proportional to the temperature to which said device is subject, means actuated by contact of said contact member with said contact portions to register the number of contacts made when said rotatable member is rotated through a single rotation by the clock mechanism, and means accumulating the number of such contacts that occur during successive rotations of said rotatable member.

12. In a degree-day register, the combination of a clock mechanism, a rotatable disc rotatable by said clock mechanism through a single rotation in a given length of time, contact means having spaced contact portions distributed over the surface of said disc along the path or rotation of said disc, said spacing of the number of said contact portions per given length of path of rotation of the rotatable disc varying progressively transversely of the direction of rotation of the rotatable disc, a contact member positioned relative to the surface of the disc so as to make contact with said contact portions when said disc rotates and of such size as to be able to contact effectivel only one contact portion at a time, temperature responsive means for causing relative motion between said contact member and disc transversely to the path of rotation of the surface of the disc, the extent of said motion being proportional to the temperature to which said device is subject, and means actuated by contact of said contact member with said contact portions to register the number of contacts made when said disc is rotated through a single rotation by the clock mechanism.

13. In a degree-day register, the combination of a clock mechanism, a rotatable disc rotatable by said clock mechanism through a single rotation in a given length of time, contact means having spaced contact portions distributed over the surface of said disc along the path of rotation of said disc, the number of said contact portions per given length of path of rotation of the rotatable disc varying progressively transversely of the direction of rotation of the rotatable disc, a contact member positioned relative to the surface of the disc so as to make contact with said contact portions when said disc rotates and of such size as to be able to contact efiectively only one contact portion at a time, temperature responsive means for causing relative motion between said contact member and disc transversely to the path of rotation of the surface of the disc, the extent of said motion being proportional to the temperature to which said device is subject, means actuated by contact of said contact member with said contact portions to register the number of contacts made when said disc is rotated through a single rotation by the clock mechanism, and means accumulating the number of such contacts that occur during successive rotations of the said disc.

14. In a degree-day register, the combination of a clock mechanism, a rotatable disc rotatable by said clock mechanism through a single rotation in a given length of time, contact means having, spaced contact portions distributed over the surface of said disc along the path of rotation of said disc, the number of said contact portions per given length of path of rotation of the rotatable disc varying progressively transversely of the direction of rotation of the rotatable disc, a contact member positioned relative to the rotatable disc surface so as to make contact with said contact portions when said rotatable disc rotates to contact effectively onl one contact portion at a time, temperature responsive means for causing relative motion between said contact member and disc transversely to the path of rotation of the surface of the disc, the extent of said motion being proportional to the temperature to which said device is subject, an electrical circuit including the contact member and disc contact portions completable upon engagement of said contact member and disc contact portions, and means actuated upon completion of said electrical circuit to register the number of contacts made when said disc is rotated through a single rotation by the clock mechanism.

ELMO D. HIDY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,131,573 Snediker Sept. 27, 1938 2,377,860 Bickley June 12, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 266,677 Germany Apr. 29, 1913 26,257 Great Britain June 5, 1913 392,313 Germany Mar. 18, 192a 

